vives the theory as to the influence of the spleen on pancreatic digestion, which Schiff was the first to put forward in 1862. It has long been known that the digestive action of pancreatic juice on proteids is not continuous, but intermittent, and that it appears regularly with the process of gastric digestion. Schiff showed that, in animals from which the spleen had been removed, neither the pancreatic juice nor an infusion of the pancreas had any digestive influence on proteids. Herzen has combined Schiff's views with Heidenhain's researches on zymogens. He finds that the volume of the spleen at any moment varies directly as the amount of trypsin in the pancreatic juice, and inversely as the amount of zymogen. Thus the maximum quantity of zymogen is present during starvation, when the trypsin and splenic dilatation are at their minimum. Six or seven hours after food the conditions are exactly reversed. Furthermore, admixture of infusion of

congested spleen greatly aids the pancreatic digestion of proteids. The blood of the splenic

vein has a similar action, that from other vessels

none. Herzen concludes that in the living pancreas the protrypsin is transformed into active trypsin by the influence of a substance produced in the spleen in quantity proportional to the intensity of its congestion. The substance finds its way to the duodenum through the general circulation.-British Medical Journal.

MEDICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.-The Lettso mian Lectures before the Medical Society of London will be delivered on February 13 and 17 and March 2, 1896, by Watson Cheyne, F.R S., who has chosen for his subject "The Objects and Limits of Operations for Cancer." The annual oration will be delivered on May 18th by Dr. W. H. Allchin.

GALLICIN, A GALLIC ACID DERIVATIVE; ITS USE IN THE TREATMENT OF EYE DISEASES.— The results obtained by the use of this preparation of gallic acid, which was first employed in some two hundred ophthalmic cases by Mellinger, of Basel, have been confirmed by George F. Suker, of Toledo, Ohio, in an additional series of thirty cases. He sums up the therapeutic value of the drug as follows: It is applicable in all cases of catarrhal affections of the mucous membrane of the eye, either with or without secondary eczema; in cases of phlyctenular keratitis or conjunctivitis; and is exceedingly serviceable in follicular conditions and in super

worthy of trial, and in the future will, no doubt, play an important rôle in the treatment of the above-named diseases. He thinks that it is best employed in the powdered form; and, being very light, he has found that about one centi. gramme is sufficient for an application. says it is to be applied once or twice daily, as may be deemed expedient.—International Medical Magazine.

He

SPINA BIFIDA CURED BY EXCISION OF Sac.Dr. James K. Young reports the case of a boy 1 year old. The tumor occupied the most common seat-the lumbo-sacral region—and was of the type of meningocele, or sac without nerveelements. The mass was large and could be moved more easily to the left than to the right, but showed no distinct pedicle. It was firm and covered with normal skin, and was unchanged during crying. The incision was made over the tumor and the sac was dissected out. The pedicle was ligated with a zigzag suture, cut short, and the stump edges were secured by uninterrupted suture. The technique was of the most strict aseptic variety. The case made a perfect and uninterrupted recovery.

SUDDEN DEATH OF A MEDICAL MAN AT A

PATIENT'S HOUSE. A correspondent of the Medical Times and Hospital Gazette writes:

"Last week Dr. R. B. Morley, of Westfield Terrace, Leeds, died under singular circumstances. He rode on a bicycle to visit a lady patient at Allwoodley, a distance of six miles, and was in the act of examining the lady when he suddenly fell backward and in a few minutes expired.

His patient died on the following morning, her death, it is believed, being accelerated by the shock. Dr. Morley, I understand, was only 43 years of age."

INTESTINAL INVAGINATION AND ITS TREAT

MENT.-Dr. Rydigier, of Krakau, has gathered together a series of eighty-four new cases of operation for this condition from reliable sources; and from his study of them and cases occurring in his own practice draws the following conclusions:

In acute intestinal invagination,

1. Operation should be employed as soon as non-operative measures have been thoroughly tried without success.

2. After the laparotomy disinvagination should be attempted before all other methods. If there are any suspicious-looking points on the intestinal wall where rupture may be feared, the peritoneum should be walled off with iodoform gauze or the part should be drawn out of the abdominal cavity.

3. When disinvagination is impossible, resection of the invaginatum should be employed,

nator.

4. The resection of the entire invagination is to be employed where there are marked alterations in the wall of the intestine and perforation threatens.

5. The formation of an artificial anus and entero-anastomosis have usually no place in acute intestinal invagination. Only in case of collapse is an anus præternaturalis made admissible.

In chronic intestinal invagination,

1. Non-operative therapeutic measures should be employed, but not for more than one week. 2. During the period between the attacks, operation is to be advised.

3. After laparotomy disinvagination is to be Four successful cases attempted tentatively. have been reported,-one at the end of nine months, two after six months, and one after ten weeks.

If this do not succeed, resection of the invaginatum should be employed. Entero-anastomosis may be employed where there are adhesions; but there are no indications in chronic | intestinal invagination for the formation of an artificial anus.-International Medical Maga

zine.

ON SOME NEW MEDICINES IN THE THERA

PEUTICS OF TUBERCULOSIS OF THE LUNGS.Prof. E. de Renzi, M.D., of Naples, reports on the effect of some new medicines used in the treatment of tuberculosis as well as of some older medicines, the doses of which have been modi. fied.

He speaks of acidum phenosuccinicum, phenosuccin, and iodophenosuccin. The trials on animals and patients showed that these three preparations do not influence considerably the tuberculous process. There was also no constant action on fever.

Nuclein was given in parenchymatous injections, beginning with 1⁄2 cubic centimetre and cubic centimetre daily, up to large doses of 34 cubic centimetres. These injections caused neither local nor general troubles. In most cases

they were well borne. Of five patients treated, three showed marked general improvement, one showed considerable decrease of râles, but no great improvement.

Creasotal, creasotum carbonatum, was given three patients in doses of 1⁄2 to 30 grammes per day for nine, twelve, and thirty-four days. In all cases it was well received. There was an improvement in all, one even with increase in weight. The fever was not influenced by this medicine; the average temperature was even some tenths higher during treatment.

medicine no remarkable effect was obtained; the general condition improved, however, in some, especially when they had taken large doses.

Aqua oxygenata had no effect. The average temperature remained the same.

Liquor arsenicalis was tried in large doses on four patients, increasing from 4 to 50 drops per day for nine to seventeen days. No trouble was observed from the large doses; the weight increased in all cases. There was, however, no further general improvement. In one case there was noted decrease in the râles.-International Medical Magazine.

ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY.-The list of honorary degrees conferred by the senatus at the inaugural

celebrations includes two members of the medi

cal profession who are to receive the degree of LL.D. One of these is George Skene Keith, M A., M. D., who is a graduate in arts of Aberdeen and studied medicine at Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Pesth, and Paris. The second is Sir James Reid, Physician-in Ordinary to the Queen. Sir James Reid graduated M.A. at Aberdeen in 1869.

PRESENTATION.—The British Medical Journal says: The Mayor of Norwich, Sir Peter Eade, was presented, on September 25th, with his portrait, painted by Mr. Forbes, R.A., in recognition of services rendered by him in connection with the organization of the Norwich Castle Museum. The presentation was made by Lord Walsingham, on behalf of the subscribers. The Norwich Town Council also presented the hon. orary freedom of the city to Sir Peter Eade."

PIROGOF MUSEUM.-The new Pirogof Museum of Anatomy and Surgery, at St. Petersburg, was recently inaugurated by the laying of an inscribed stone in the government building, which is to be reconstructed for the purposes of the museum. The museum will be arranged on the lines of those of Hunter, in London, and of Dupuytren, in Paris. So far as normal anatomy is concerned, the new collection will have a powerful rival in the fine anatomical museum in the adjoining Army Medical Academy, which was largely collected and arranged by Pirogof himself. Pirogof was for many years professor chair of anatomy and of the museum has just of anatomy in the academy. A history of the been published by Professor Tarenetzki, the present professor of anatomy, in connection with the approaching centenary of the academy. -Corr. British Medical Journal.

HARVEIAN ORATION.-The Harveian oration before the Royal College of Physicians was delivered by Dr. W. S. Church on Friday,

CURRENT MEDICAL LITERATURE.

An Essay on Diphtheria and its Specific Treatment. By John Pirnat, M.D, Evansville, Ind.

The Influences of Operative Procedures in Peritoneal Tuberculosis. By Hunter Robb, M.D., Cleveland, Ohio., Professor of Gynecology in Western Reserve University, Cleveland. Note upon a Condition of the Pupil Following Extraction of Cataract. By T. B. Schneideman, M D, Adjunct Professor of Diseases of the Eye in the Philadelphia Polyclinic; Assistant Surgeon, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia.

Hæmorrhoids; Prolapsed Rectum; New Operation. By Merrill Ricketts, M.D., Cincinnati, Ohio.

Kentucky School of Medicine and Hospital, in the City of Louisville. Register of Students, 1895. Circular of Information, 1896. Fortieth Annual Session, January 3d.

The Osteopathic Fad. By A. J. Steele, M.D.,

St. Louis, Mo., Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery in the Missouri Medical College and in the St. Louis Post-Graduate School of Medicine, and Orthopaedic Surgeon to the Martha Parsons Children's Hospital.

A Case of Lesion of the Thalamus. Death from Intestinal Hæmorrhage. By Wharton Sinkler, M.D.

Nerve Suture, with the Report of a Successful Operation for Suture of the Musculo Spiral Nerve Three Months After its Complete Division. By Wharton Sinkler, M.D.

Rachitis its Various Manifestations, Diagnosis, Differential Diagnosis, and Prognosis. Benjamin Lee, A. M., M.D., PhD., Professor

By

Surgical Clinic held at St. Mary's Hospital, February 10, 1895. By H. O. Walker, M.D., Detroit, Mich.

Perforation in Enteric Fever; its Surgical Treatment. By Frederick Holme Wiggin, M.D., Visiting Surgeon, New York City Hospital (B. I.), etc.

Medical Terminology; its Etymology and Errors. By P. J. McCourt, M.D., N. Y. Ophthalmia Neonatorum. By Louis F. Love, M.D., Ophthalmic Surgeon to St. Mary's Hospital, House of the Good Shepherd, etc., Philadelphia.

The Necessities of a Modern Medical College. By Prof. E. Fletcher Ingals, A.M., M.D., Chicago.

The Preston Retreat. By Richard C. Norris, M.D. Reprinted from the American Gynæcological and Obstetrical Journal for September, 1895.

The Lingual Traction Method (Laborde) of Artificial Respiration, with a Report of Two Successful Cases. By A. E. Roussel, M.D., Adjunct Professor of Practice and Clinical Medicine at the Medico-Chirurgical College; Consulting Physician to the Temporary Home for Young Men and Boys; Visiting Physician to the Howard Hospital, etc., Philadelphia. Spasmodic Laughter and Weeping. A Lecture Delivered at the Salpêtrière by Professor Edouard Brissaud. Translated from the Revue Scientifique for the Chicago Medical Recorder, with the permission of the author, by Hugh T. Patrick, M.D., Chicago.

Vibratory Medicine. By Hugh T. Patrick, M.D., Lecturer on Neurology, Chicago Polyclinic.

Hypnotism at Nancy. By Hugh T. Patrick, M.D., Professor of Neurology, Chicago Polyclinic.

and College for Graduates in Medicine, Phila. delphia.

The Importance of Early Diagnosis in Lateral
Curvature of the Spine. By Benjamin Lee,
A.M., M.D., PhD., Philadelphia.
Acute Inflammation of the Tympanic Cavity;
Some Operative Measures for the Relief of a
Chronic Discharging Ear. Clinical Lecture
Delivered at the Jefferson Medical College
Hospital. By S. MacCuen Smith, M.D.,
Clinical Professor of Otology in Jefferson
Medical College; Surgeon in Charge of the
Ear and Throat Department of the German-
town Hospital, Philadelphia.

A Case of Tetanus Cured with Antitoxin. By
C. F. Timmerman, M.D., Amsterdam, N. Y.

By Hugh T. Patrick, M. D., Professor of Neurology in the Chicago Polyclinic.

The Combination of Hysteria and Organic Disease. By Hugh T. Patrick, M.D. Herniotomy; Osteotomy. By Samuel E. Milliken, M.D., New York., Attending Surgeon to Randall's Island Hospitals.

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Samuel Edwin Milliken.

The Importance of Protecting the Stomach and Intestines from Pathogenic Germs. By Boardman Reed, M. D., Atlantic City, N. J. Valedictory Address. By Prof. J. C. Wilson, M.D., Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. May 15, 1895.

COMMERCIAL NEWS.

MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS.

The fourth annual meeting of the stockholders of the F. A. Davis Company will be held Wednesday, November 20th, at the office of the company, Nos. 1914-16 Cherry Street, at 3 P.M., for the purpose of electing directors to serve for the ensuing year and transacting such other business as may come before the stockholders.

C. T. CRANDALL, Sec'y.

A TEST IN PHARMACAL "ETHICS." Mr. E. A. Schubert, of Fostoria, Ohio, in the course of a paper on pharmacal ethics, relates this account of a practical test of the pro fessional integrity and competency of retail druggists in a given section of his State,-a section, by the way, probaby the equal in professional intelligence and honesty of the average community in Ohio and other States: "I espoused the thought," remarks Mr. Schubert, "that it would be a capital idea to write a prescription of easy composition and analysis, to see how many druggists would fill it cor rectly.

"I set to work immediately mailing to each of fifty physicians one of the prescriptions, at the same time asking him to write it as a prescription of his own, send some friend with it to his druggist to have it filled, a copy taken and returned to me with the compounded prescription. Out of the fifty requests sent out, I received thirty-seven answers. The prescrip tion called for a three ounce preparation, but placing them side by side I found twenty-one to be three-ounce preparations, seven were in size four ounces, while the rest ranged in size from five to eight ounces. It was to be an emulsion; nineteen were of that composition, the remainder were far from being true to

name.

the remaining two were compounded by old and reliable druggists in the city. Of the twenty six not properly filled we found five Ph.Gs.; the remainder were country druggists having little experience in this line and located, with few exceptions, in towns of 6000 inhabitants and less." Can it be possible that this sort of recklessness and ignorance characterizes the profession in other intelligent communities?-Western Druggist, August, 1895.

BEAUTIFUL TARPON SPRINGS.

The paradise of the health seeker and the sportsman. Look in December issue for announcement of Tarpon Springs Hotel.

A. R. ELLIOTT, No. 37 College Place, N. Y., has just issued a very complete Hand-book of Medical, Hygienic, Pharmaceutical, and Dental Journals, giving address of publication, type measurement, when founded, circulation, advertising rates, etc. It is carefully compiled, arranged in alphabetical order, with blank memorandum-page opposite each printed page, -a unique but very advantageous feature. Price, $1.50.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR UNTOWARD ACTION.

With the characteristic pithy and trenchant utterance which "hews to the line, letting the chips fall where they may," and which marks all of his sayings, Dr. Frank Kraft, 57 Bell Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, Professor of Materia Medica in Cleveland Medical College, writes: "The professional market seems to be filled with substitutes for the original and ever favorite antikamnia; all warranted to do what the antikamnia has succeeded, by hard work and expenditure of much money, in establishing. All of these nefarious products masking under some name partly modeled after the antikamnia pattern, beginning with an A, and warranted to still pain, etc., are base imitations of antikamnia. They may be, and perhaps are, coal tar products, but they cannot take the place of antikamnia. This was the first product and made a success because of its merit; hence the host of imitators. Insist upon getting the original antikamnia, and caution your druggist that, if he practice any substitution, you will not only decline further to deal with him, but hold him personally responsible for any untoward action of his

CLINICAL LECTURES.

CANCER.

BY ERNEST LAPLACE, M.D., LL.D.,

Professor of Surgery, Pathology, and Clinical Surgery in the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia; Visiting Surgeon to Philadelphia Hospital, etc.

I

WISH, to-day, to give you a few general thoughts on cancer,—an affection of such dread to all who are acquainted with it; so difficult to diagnosticate and treat,-cancer, the bugbear of the medical student, especially when called on to distinguish between it, sarcoma, and other growths. To begin with what we know about cancer. The word cancer means simply a crab, so named by the ancient pathologists from its eating or gnawing. At the present time it means nothing else than an hyperplasia, or excessive development, of the cells in a particular part of the body. Now, these cells may either grow on the surface and bulge out or they may grow on the surface and dip into the tissues. According as they do one or the other, they are benign or malignant growths. Let us say, by way of illustration, it began on the surface of the skin in the epithelium. You all have been out rowing, and have noticed how callous your hand would become and how here and there was a "water blister." The oar acts as an irritant to the skin, and a congestion and hypernutrition is the result; the epithelial cells proliferate, accumulate in the one spot, and there is a tumor or callus, under which may be found blood-serum, which, being absorbed, leaves the thickened epidermis.

On the other hand, the man is a smoker and smokes a pipe. The pipe always rubs the

No. 12

same spot. That man comes from a family of cancerous ancestors, and has a suitable soil or predisposition to cancer, if the chances are given for an irritant to enter the tissues. The man may have an abrasion on the lip; the pipe irritates it and causes an hyperæmia. Furthermore, there is another element that comes in, and this is a micro-organism. I cannot prove to you that this is the case, nor can I show you the germ, but it is allied to the germs that we know are the cause of other affections. In the case of the thickened epidermis of the hand, and when we have a corn on the foot, we have an irritant acting from without; but in epithelioma the irritant-a germ—acts in the tissues and causes the growing epithelium to be pushed down, and causes it to infiltrate into the tissues, while in the corn it is simply an accumulation of the epithelial cells on the surface. The ordinary corn or callus is an epithelioma in the true sense of the word, but time and usage have determined us not to call this an epithelioma. Now let us return to our smoker.

The pipe has irritated the crack or abrasion of the lip. The man is of a carcinomatous diathesis; just what a diathesis is we do not know, but he has the chemical condition within him which makes him a suitable soil to develop cancer. Such a condition is tuberculosis, that springs up from grief or exposure. Many thousand people smoke a pipe and do not get cancer, because they do not have the diathesis. As a result of the irritant, the cells proliferate and produce a chemical substance called a toxin. This increases the irritation on the inside and causes the proliferation to continue. The cells do not accumulate on the surface, but infiltrate into the subcutaneous